Queens Senator Challenges de Blasio To Improve City's Response To Tree-Related Complaints

BAYSIDE, QUEENS - State Sen. Tony Avella wants Mayor Bill de Blasio to improve the city's response to tree-related complaints from New Yorkers, according to a press release from the senator.

Avella's announcement came less than a week after the mayor committed additional funding for the Trees and Sidewalks Repair Program during a visit to the senator's district, which includes Bayside, Douglaston, Little Neck, Whitestone, College Point and Floral Park.

"If the mayor is truly interested in addressing city tree-related issues, rather than a re-election campaign press conference about the Tree and Sidewalk Repair Program, then I offer the following recommendations to address these issues in a much more comprehensive approach," Avella said in the release. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

The senator outlined an eight-point proposal in the release:

• The Tree and Sidewalk Repair Program needs to be codified into law and expanded in terms of funding and eligibility.
• The city's pruning cycle needs to be changed from the current seven to 10 years to comply with national standards of three to five years.
• The city must accept responsibility for city tree roots that damage private property beyond the sidewalk area, such as driveways, front yards and walkways.
• The backlog of stump removals needs to be eliminated.
• Homeowners should have the option of opting out of receiving a city tree since upkeep and liability is on the homeowner.
• Create roving tree-pruning crews assigned to community board districts to address tree-related issues on a yearly basis.
• Dismiss Department of Transportation sidewalk violations when the damage is caused by city tree roots.

"It is nice that the mayor has allocated additional money for the Tree and Sidewalk Repair program, but given that he has been in office for three and a half years and is only just addressing this issue now is sad," the senator said in the release.

"Mr. Mayor, you need to do more."

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